Like movie trailers, releasing music snippets has become one of the most effective ways African artists introduce new songs to their fans, building anticipation before the official release.

Back in the 2000s era of Nigerian music, artists were extremely protective of their songs, fearing leaks. But in recent years, dropping short previews of upcoming tracks has proven to be a smart and successful marketing tactic. Artists like Ayra Starr, Rema, Pheelz, Lojay, Davido, Burna Boy, and many others have successfully used this approach to hype up fans and create a buzz before a song drops.

Asake’s career saw a massive boost through using snippets for promotion. When he broke into the limelight in 2020, he teased fans with snippets for almost every hit song, from Terminator to Organize and PBUY (Peace Be unto You). This played a significant role in his rise to fame and the success of his songs.

Ayra Starr also had a viral moment with the snippet for Sability. When she officially released the song in February 2023, it became one of her top five most-streamed lead tracks.

The impact of snippets on music marketing became even more evident in 2024 when Nigerian artists flooded social media with teasers. Some of the biggest ones included Olamide’s Hello Habibi, PsychoYP & Jeriq’s Disintegrate from their collaborative EP, Ruger and Tiwa Savage’s Toma Toma, Wizkid’s Kese (Dance), and Phyno’s Nwoke Esike from his Full Time Job album.

In 2025, the trend hasn’t slowed down. Four major snippets have already taken over social media. Rema’s Baby (Is It a Crime)—which samples Sade Adu’s Is It a Crime from her 1985 album Promise—has been trending since late 2024. Even before its official release on February 7, 2025, the snippet was already being played in clubs and events.

The full song was met with a lot of excitement, debuting at number 5 on Spotify’s Top Songs Debut Global and racking up over four million streams in just four days.

Fido and Kizz Daniel also jumped on the teaser wave, giving fans a preview of their proposed remix for one of 2025’s biggest hits Joy is Coming. The snippet has sparked conversations, with young fans sarcastically calling it the “civil worker’s remix” due to Kizz Daniel’s massive fanbase among the older generation.

On the same wave, Odumodublvck’s Pity This Boy featuring Victony and Shalipopi’s Laho have both gained enormous traction, thanks to their popularity on social media, where fans have used them in viral online challenges and embraced the catchy phrases that came with it.

I believe artists drop snippets, especially at the start of the year, to test the waters. It’s a way to gauge the reception from fans and see which musical direction might work best for their next project.

There are possibilities that some of these snippets may never make it to the market—it’s often just a strategic way to gather feedback. However, that doesn’t mean unreleased snippets are lost forever. Many of them resurface later, making it to official releases when the timing feels right. But that’s a discussion for another day.

Snippets has been a reoccurring trend in the Nigerian music scene, as a means to create a buzz before a song drops.

Music Snippets: A Trend in The Nigerian Industry

Snippets has been a reoccurring trend in the Nigerian music scene, as a means to create a buzz before a song drops.

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